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DOUGHERTY: Really, Lance? You're the next Bill Clinton?

I laughed out loud when I heard that Lance Armstrong had, in an interview with Texas Monthly, compared himself to Bill Clinton, in regard to the way many people have forgiven the former president. The seven-time Tour de France winner then went on to proclaim that people would forgive him. Now, I realize that not everyone is a Bill Clinton fan. I voted for him, but I certainly thought he damaged his legacy and the office of president with his immature behavior concerning Monica Lewinsky. But he has tried to work in a positive manner for the most part since he left office. The biggest thing that comes to mind is his numerous instances of working on projects with former President George H.W. Bush. Clinton, in fact, had a 69 percent approval rating in a recent poll. And love him or hate him, Clinton's misdeeds concerned his private life. Lance Armstrong, on the other hand: A. Cheated to win as a professional cyclist; led what the United States Anti-Doping Agency has called the most sophisticated doping program in history; B. Tried to ruin the lives of people who would not cover up for his cheating; he went so far as to also try to ruin the reputation of their family members; C. Is still under investigation by the U.S. government trying to recoup $30 million paid to Armstrong's racing team by the U.S. Postal Service and faces numerous civil suits by companies trying to get their money back from Armstrong after he was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles. Though he appeared on an Oprah Winfrey program for a highly publicized interview in which he admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs, Armstrong has repeatedly refused to cooperate with the U.S. investigation, apparently planning to keep all his ill-gotten gains as long as he can. How's that forgiveness working out for you so far, Lance? Do you feel beloved?